Katy Nesbitt/Go! MagazineThe annual Wallowa County Stockgrowers rodeo is Saturday, Aug. 21.

By Katy Nesbitt

Go! Magazine

ENTERPRISE — The Wallowa County Stockgrowers celebrate the Western ranching lifestyle Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Wallowa County Fairgrounds.

Open to the public, the Stockgrowers’ annual meeting begins at 7 a.m. with a full breakfast served up by the Chuckwagon Sisters at Cloverleaf Hall, at the fairgrounds, 668 NW First St., Enterprise.

Tammy Dennee, executive director of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, will be in attendance to give updates on current activities and trends in the industry.

This year’s keynote speaker is Caroline Lobdell, executive director of the Western Resources Legal Center. This nonprofit legal education organization specializes in legal education advocacy on behalf of natural resource users in the United States. It is based at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland.

Lobdell and her students acted on behalf of Wallowa County when the commissioners filed intervenor status in two lawsuits against the U.S. Forest Service’s Wallowa Mountains Office in Joseph. The Forest Service and the county prevailed in both cases.

Ranch rodeo

The annual Stockgrowers ranch rodeo, featuring teams from the county’s working ranches, begins at 11 a.m., also at the Wallowa County Fairgrounds.

Cowboys and cowgirls compete in roping and dog herding competitions, horse racing and the ever-popular rock jack building contest. An important feature of fence building in rocky terrain, the rock jack is an anchor for fences incorporated in ranch pasture fences throughout Eastern Oregon. To register, call Brinda Stanley at 541-263-0026.

Awards

The community is invited to Cloverleaf Hall at 6:30 p.m. for a social hour and dinner featuring New York strip steaks and salads provided by Chuckwagon Sisters.

After dinner the Cattlemen of the Year and honorary member awards will be announced as well as winners of fundraiser raffles for a spotting scope, binoculars and a rangefinder.

Saturday, Aug. 21

Meeting: 7 a.m., Cloverleaf Hall

Rodeo: 11 a.m., Wallowa County Fairgrounds

Enterprise